U.S. Army Chief on investments in “smart bases,” 5G networks and DOD networks

The U.S. Army is exploring how to modernize connectivity across their military bases with the adoption of 5G mobile edge compute (MEC) and “smart bases” that can wirelessly connect thousands of on-base IoT devices — including autonomous vehicles and drones — within the DOD’s network infrastructure.

5G connectivity gives the army the ability to stream data sets that would have otherwise been too big to move without hardware shares Dr. James Tucker Swindell II, chief of the U.S. Army’s Radio Frequency Communications Division

“So when we talk about the wider system of the military, it’s really something that could have applicability from a logistics perspective, from an operational perspective, [and] we can look at how 5G can affect the tactical battlespace being at the edge,” he explains in a recent FedScoop panel.

Dr. Swindell joined Lamont Copeland, managing director, federal solutions architect at Verizon in the panel to talk about how the U.S. Army is integrating 5G into its operations and leaning on key partnerships to get there.

“It’s going to be a large and difficult upbringing, because what you’re going to look through is working through these legacy technologies that are out there,” shares Lamont. “What 5G and the edge compute bring to bear is the quick innovation and quick incorporation of [modern capabilities] into these military bases.”

Paramount to that, Lamont says is working with a network partner that can bring in zero trust architecture to help ensure they are providing an extra layer of security for defense agencies.

Learn more about how the military is adopting 5G connectivity and how Verizon works with its DOD partners to modernize communications on U.S. military bases.

This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group and FedScoop and underwritten by Verizon.